Gerber Says Knife Enthusiasts Back on Their Radar

Gerber is rolling out two new folders they say live up to the high standards that core knife buyers have come to expect. According to the Portland, Oregon-based company, the made in the USA SharkBelly and the stylish Pocket Square demonstrate that they’re once again including knife enthusiasts in their scope of concern.

Gerber incorporated trendy features into the SharkBelly, including a 3.25” sheepsfoot blade, available in a plain or combo edge, and a deep carry wire pocket clip.“It’s an interesting, innovative knife that’s comfortable to carry every day and checks a lot of boxes,” says Gerber spokesperson Matt Aboussie. “It adds features for those who are more ‘into’ knives.” 420HC steel and a GFN handle keep the cost at an MSRP of $35.

In the same price range, the liner lock Pocket Square (shown below) places an emphasis on style, catering to city-dwellers with its modern, angular look. Its 2.9” drop-point blade of 7Cr17MoV steel nestles completely inside the handle, which comes in GFN or aluminum variations. Aboussie says this overseas-produced entry-level knife should entice urbanites into the fold. “A lot of what we do is purpose built, military-inspired stuff. But we also want to appeal to the person who EDCs a knife in an urban, office environment.”

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Gerber brand held the same kind of esteem that a Spyderco or Zero Tolerance does today. But large scale military contracts and the company’s success in the mass market came at the cost of their reputation with knife snobs. Gerber says they’ve learned the hard way just how important the knife community’s opinion is. “That’s the core of the industry, the most influential part. Knife guys are not afraid to go on a forum and be vocal,” Aboussie says. “The team is sensitive to that, and they listen to feedback because they are passionate about the brand.”

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